A New Impetus for European Youth. European Commission White Paper.

Despite their highly divergent situations, young people largely share the same values, ambitions, and difficulties. Despite the more complex social and economic context in which young Europeans are currently living, they are well equipped to adapt. National and European policymakers must facilitate this process of change by making young people stakeholders in their societies. Youth must be regarded as a positive force in the construction of Europe rather than as a problem. Although the European Union's individual member states must still bear the brunt of putting various youth-related measures into practice, it is important to give a European dimension to youth-related activities. A new framework for European cooperation must be developed and must comprise these two main aspects: applying the open method of coordination in the specific field of youth and taking better account of the "youth" dimension in other policy initiatives. The framework must also include provisions for listening to what young people have to say and must offer a forum for local initiatives while encouraging member states to cooperate more effectively and develop concrete ideas under existing European programs. (Appendixes constituting approximately 75% of this document contain a detailed discussion of the results of the consultation and an overview of European action on the youth front.) (MN)